Automatic train wire connecter



Mud? 27, 1934- H. F. WOERNLEY AUTOMATIC TRAIN WIRE CONNECTER Filed May 17, 1930 w. 1V ww Ga 09 m w mm, t m1. m 0 m 30 O INVENTOR HARRY EWOERNLEY ATTOR EY Patented Mar. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 1,952,347 AUTOMATIC TRAIN WIRE CONNECTER Harry F. Woernley, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wiimerding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 17, '1930, Serial No. 453,153

15 Claims.

I This invention relates to automatic coupling devices of the type shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 1,571,222, dated February 2, 1926.

In the above mentioned patent there is'shown an automatic coupling device in which the electric contact carrier is projected forward into engagement with the corresponding carrier of the counterpart coupling immediately after the cars are coupled up. With this construction, the electric circuits of the train are'completed when the cars are coupled.

At times it has been found advantageous to prevent the completion of the electric circuits of a train until an operator has had the oppor-' tunity of testing the train so as to insure that the physical couplings have been properly made. before the electrical connections have been established An object of the invention is to provide a coupling device of the above type in which the movement of .the electric contact carrier to couof engagement with the contact carrier of the adjoining car when the cars are coupled up.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling device of the character mentioned which is simple in construction, and reliable and, exact in function under all conditions of service;

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the several parts ,of which it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described'and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a diagrammatic view, mostly in section, of car couplers in the coupled position, the parts of one of the counterpart electric train line couplers being shown in-coupled position and the parts of the other electric train line coupler being shown in uncoupled position.

Referring to the drawing, the electric coupler may comprise a casing 1, preferably adapted to be secured to the car coupler, and containing a movable member or slide 2, carrying a plurality of electric contacts 3, which are adapted to engage corresponding contacts of the counterpart coupler when the couplers are coupled vtogether and the slides carrying said contacts are projected outwardly to the extended position, as 0 shown on the right side of the drawing.

Pivotally mounted in the casing on a pin 4, carried by the casing 1, is a lever 5 having one end connected by a pivoted rod 6 to a piston 7 contained in piston cylinder 8 and having pivotally connected to a point near the other end of the lever, a plunger 9 which engages the end of a coil spring 10, so that upon movement of the piston 7 by fluid under pressure, the lever 5 is rocked on the pin 4, to cause "the plunger 9 to compress the spring. v

The spring 10 is mounted in a casing 12 having a spherical projection 13 at the front end adapted to engage 'a correspondingrecess in the coupler casing 1.

Adjacent to the pin 4, the lever 5 is provided with an arm 14 carrying a pin 15, and pivotally connected to the contact carrier 2 is a link 16 having a slot 17 at the rear end in which the pin 15 is adapted to engage.

In order to lock the lever 5 and hold the spring 10 under compression, a trigger arm 18 is pivotally connected to one end of the lever andis provided with a hook 19 adapted to engage a fixed pin 20 when the parts have moved to the position in which the springs are compressed.

For tripping the arm 18 from its locked position, a piston 21 is provided having a stem 22 adapted to engage the arm, and subject to the pressure of a spring 23 tending to retract the stem. 1 r r Slidably mounted on the arm 18 is a block 24, which is normally pressed into yielding engagement with a pin 25, secured to the arm, by means of a finger -26,'which engages a leaf spring 27, secured to the lever 5, the block being positioned to engage the end of the stem 22 when the arm 18 is in the locked position.

Associated with the electric train line coupler, is a car coupler of the tight lock type, which is shown as comprising hook-shaped projections 28, each adapted to engage a corresponding inclined surface of a counterpart coupler and be rigidly clamped together by the spring actuated locking levers 29, which may be released by fluid pressure admitted to pistons 30, in cylinders 31.

The car coupler also serves as a coupler for the fluid pressure pipes, such as the main reservoir pipe 32 and the brake pipe 33. The fluid pressure conduits are arranged in vertical alinement in the actual construction, but in order to clearly show the operation, the brake pipe connection through the coupler is shown at one side of the coupler.

The conduit through the coupler for the main reservoir line is controlled by a tappet valve 34, which is unseated at the final part of the coupling movement.

The conduit through the coupler for the brake pipe 33 is controlled by a tappet valve 35 con nected to a piston 36.

Fluid under pressure for operating piston 7 may be supplied through a pipe 41 which is connected to the main reservoir 42 in the manner shown in the above mentioned patent.

A manually operated valve 43 is provided in pipe 41 for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from the pipe ll, and the pipe 41 contains a check valve 44 for preventing back flow.

The supply of fluid for operating the car coupler piston 30 may be controlled by a relay valve 45 adapted to be operated by a piston to for supplying fluid from the main reservoir pipe line 32 through passage 47 to the piston 39 and fluid under pressure for operating the piston 46 is supplied through a pipe 18 and a port 49, controlled by piston 7, and only when said piston has been moved out its full stroke by fluid pressure.

A port 50 leading from the piston cylinder 8 to the meeting face of the electric coupler is adapted-to register with the corresponding port of acounterpart coupler when in coupled position, so that fluid supplied to one piston chamber 8 will also be supplied through the ports 50 to the piston cylinder of the counterpart coupler.

In order to retract the contact carrier 2 when relieved of the pressure of the spring 10, a release spring 51 is provided, said spring being interposed between the rear face of the coupler casing 1 and a collar 52 on a tubular rearward projection 53 carried by the slide 2.

According to the present invention, the fluid under pressure for operatingthe tripping piston 21, is controlled by a valve device 11 adapted to be operated by fluid supplied from the main reservoir 42.

As shown, the valve device 11 may comprise a double check valve mounted for reciprocatory movement in a suitable casing. One valve 37 of the double check valve is mounted in a chamber 38 and the other valve 39 of said check valve is mounted in a chamber 40 of smaller diameter than the chamber 38. The valves 37 and 39 are connected together by a rod 60.

When the valve 39 is seated, it laps a port 61 in the chamber 10 which is connected to a chamber 62 in the casing 1, by a pipe 63. The chamber 62 is in communication with chamber 6 1 on one side of the piston 21, through a passage 65.

The valve 37 is adapted in one position to seat against a seat 66 in one end of chamber 33 so as to close the communication from said chamber, through a pipe 67 connected to the main reservoir "pipe 32.

the spring 16 held under compression by the plunger 9 and with the hook 19 of the trigger arm 18 engaging the pin 20. When two cars are brought together for coupling, the counterpart car couplers will engage in the usual manner and in the coupled position, the locking levers 29 will assume the locked position shown in the drawing. In coupling up, the tappet valves 34 and 35 are lifted from their seats by the engagement of the tappets, so that communication is established respectively through the main reservoir pipe 32 and the brake pipe 33.

Fluid under pressure flowing through the main reservoir conduit oithe car coupler, past the unseated tappet valves 34, then flows through the pipe 69 to the chamber 40 and the double check valve is moved so that the valve 39 uncovers port 61, as shown at the right in the drawing, the chamber 38, at the seat side of valve 37, being vented to the atmosphere, through the vent port 70 in valve 68.

With the port 61 thus uncovered, fluid under pressure from-the main reservoir will flow to the piston chamber es, through pipe 63, chamber 62, and pipe 65. The tripping piston 21 thereupon actuates the stem 22, which engages the block 24, so that the arm 18 is shifted, causing the hook 19 to be tripped out of engagement with the pin 26.

Upon release of the arm 13, the lever 5 is turned on its pivot pin a by the force of the spring 10 acting through the plunger 9, causing the pin 15 on the arm 14 to act on the toggle link 16, so as to project the contact carrier 2 and thereby effeet the engagement of the respective contacts 3 with corresponding contacts of the counterpart coupler.

In order to ensure that the car couplers will be in the full coupled position, before the contact carrier is projected, the volume chamber 62 is in--' terposed between the piston 21 and the pipe 63 and the rate of flow of fluid from said pipe to the chamber 62 is restricted by means of a restricted port 5e, so that a predetermined time is necessary for the fluid pressure on piston 21 to increase sufficiently to effect the tripping movement thereof.

It will thus be noted that while the piston 21 of the coupler device shown in my Patent No.

1,571,222, is adapted to be operated by fluid pressure from the brake pipe 33, in the present case, said tripping piston is operated by fluid pressure supplied from the main reservoir pipe 32 in the V manner just described.

In order to uncouple, the valve 43 on one car is turned so as to admit fluid under pressure from the reservoir 42 to pipe 41, as more fully shown in the above mentioned patent. The fluid is then supplied through pipe 41 to piston cylinder 3,

The piston '7 is then shifted rearwardly and the lever 5 is turned on the pivot pin i,'so that the plunger 9 is operated to compress the spring 10.

The pressure applied through the pin 15 and link 16 to the contact carrier 2 being now relieved,

the release spring 51 operates to retract the carthat fluid under pressure is supplied through the 1 pipe 48 to piston 46 in the coupler head. The valve 45 is thereupon opened by piston 46 to admit fluid from the main reservoir pipe 32 through passage 47 to the piston chamber 31, and the unlocking piston 30 then operates the locking lever 29 to unlock the car coupler and permit the separation of the cars.

The movement of the lever 5 also projects the arm 18, so that the hook 19 engages the pin 20, the arm being guided by pin 55, so that the pointed end of the hook will pass under the pin 20.

So long as the car couplers are coupled, the piston 21 will be held out by fluid pressure sup plied through the main reservoir conduit of the coupler and consequently, as the arm 18 is projected, the block 24 will eventually engage the stem 22. Further movement of the arm 18 to engage the pin 20 is permitted, however, by the fact that the block 24 can move along the arm 18 against the resistance of the spring 27, as the 0f the drawing, the piston 21 is vented to the atmosphere through the opening created at the gasket face of the main reservoir conduit, so that the piston 21 and stem 22 are moved outwardly by the spring 23. As soon as the stem 22 moves out sufiiciently, the block 24 will be snapped forward by the spring 27, so as to posi-. tion in alinement with the stem, as shown at the left of the drawing.

Fluid admitted to one piston chamber 8 flows through the registering ports to the piston chamber 8 of the counterpart coupler, so that said coupler is operated in the same manner as the other coupler as will be understood.

The electric coupler parts are now set in position ready for coupling, the spring 10 held under compression by the engagement of the hook 19 with the pin 20 and the coupling operation may now be effected as hereinbefore described.

It will now be seen that the operation ofthe electric coupler is so interlocked with the operation of the car coupler that in uncoupling, the electric contact carrier will be retracted before the car coupler can be unlocked, and in coupling up, the car coupler will be in its fully coupled position, before the electric contact carrier can be projected to make the electric connections with the contacts of the counterpart coupler.

The movement of the lever 5 and the connected parts is limited by the engagement of a projection 56 with a stop 57 carried by the casing 1.

Since in the coupled position, the pin 15 is almost in alinement with the pin 4 and the pivot pin of the link 16, a high leverage ratio is secured,

- so that the force of the spring 10 is multiplied to exert a high pressure for firmly maintaining the electric contacts in engagement.

According to the present invention, when the cars are being coupled, should'it be desired to maintain the electric contacts out of engagement cutting oh the communication through which fluid under pressure issuppliedto the tripping piston 21.

In this way the tripping piston 21 on one car will not be operated, and therefore the contact carrier on the car will remain in its uncoupled pressure is supplied to chamber 38 from the main sure is supplied from the main reservoir con-- duit to the tripping piston 21. The tripping piston will thereupon be operated in the manner heretoforedescribed to unlatch the trigger arm 18, so that the spring 10 will operate the lever 5 to project the contacts 3 forward into engagement with the corresponding contacts of the counterpart coupler.

While one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an electric coupler of the type described, the combination. with a movable member carrying electric contacts; a mechanical connection to said member, a spring acting on said mechanical connection for projecting said member in the act of coupling, and means for compressing said spring in the act of uncoupling, of means for holding said spring compressed While the coupler is in its uncoupled position, and manually concarrying electric contacts, a spring for projecting said member, means for compressing said spring, and mechanism for holding said spring compressed while the coupler is in its uncoupled position, of manually controlled means for releasing said mechanism.

3. Inan electriccoupler for nation with a movable member carrying electric contacts, a spring, means for compressing said spring, and mechanism operated by said spring for projecting said movable member, of means for holding said spring compressed while the coupler is in its uncoupled position, fluid pressure operated means for releasing said spring holding means, and manually operated means for controlling said fluid operated means.

4. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination with a movable member carrying electric contacts, a spring under compression in the uncoupled position of the coupler, mechanism operated by said spring for project The operator cars, the combiing said member, a stop device for restraining the spring, and trip means for releasing said stop de-' vice upon the coming together of the counterpart couplers, of manually operated means for controlling said trip means.

5. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination with a movable member carrying electric contacts, a spring under compression in the uncoupled position of the coupler, mechanism operated by said spring for projecting said member, and fluid operated trip means for releasing said spring, of a valve device for controlling a communication through which fluid is supplied to operate said trip means, and manually operated means for effecting the operation of said valve device to close said communication.

6. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination with a movable member carrying electric contacts, a spring under compression in the uncoupled position of the coupler, mechanism operated by said spring for projecting said member, a stop device for restraining the spring, and fluid operated trip means for releasing said stop device, of a valve device for controlling the supply and release of fluid to and from said trip means, and manually operated means for controlling the operation of said valve device.

7. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination with a movable member carrying electric contacts, resilient means for projecting said member, means for compressing said resilient means, and mechanism for holding said resilient means compressed while the coupler is in its uncoupled position, of fluid pressure operated means for releasing said mechanism, and manually operated means for controlling the operation of said fiuid pressure operated means.

8. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination with a movable member carrying electric contacts, a spring, means for holding said spring under compression in the uncoupled position of the coupler, and mechanism operable by said spring for projecting said member, of manually controlled means for efiecting the operation of said mechanism.

9. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination of a movable member carrying electric contacts connected to the respective train line circuits, a mechanical connection to said member, a spring acting on said mechanical connection for projecting said member, means operated by fluid under pressure for compressing said spring, and manually operated means for controlling the release of said spring compressing means.

10. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination of a movable member carrying electric contacts, a mechanical connection to said member, a spring acting on said mechanical connection for projecting said member, means operated by fluid under pressure for compressing said spring, a valve device for controlling the release of fluid from said spring compressing means, and a manually operated valve for controlling the operation of said Valve device.

11. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination of a movable member carrying electric contacts, a mechanical connection to said member, a spring acting on said mechanical connection for projecting said member, means operated by fluid under pressure for compressing said spring, means for holding said spring under compression, means for releasing said holding means, a valve device operated by fluid under pressure for controlling said releasing means, and a manually operated valve for controlling the operation of said valve device.

12. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination with a movable member carrying electric contacts, means for moving said member into and out of coupling position, and fluid pressure operated mechanism for controlling the operation of said m ans, of a valve device operated by fluid under pressure for controlling the supply and release of fluid for operating said mechanism.

13. In an electric coupler of the character described, the combination with a movable member carrying electric contacts, and fluid pressure operated mechanism for controlling the operation of said member, of a valve device operated by fluid under pressure for controlling the supply of fluid to said mechanism, and a manually operated means for controlling the actuation of said valve device.

14. The combination with a coupler head having a train pipe conduit, of a movable look, a fluid pressure operated device for releasing said loclg, a movable member carrying electric contact-s, a spring, a lever mechanism operatively connecting the spring with said member and through which the pressure of the spring is transmitted for projecting said member, means for locking the lever mechanism wh n said memher is retracted. fluid pressure operated means for releasing said locking means, and manually operated means for controlling the supply of fluid for operating said releasing means.

15. The combination with a coupler head hava train pipe conduit, of a movable lock, a iiuid' pressure operated device for releasing said look. a movable member carrying electric contacts, spring, a lever mechanism operatively connecting the spring with saidmember and through which the pressure of the spring is transmitted for projecting said. member, means for locking the lever mechanism in the retracted position of said member, fluid pressure operated means for releasing said locking means, means for controlling the supply of fluid from said train pipe for operating said fluid pressure operated means, and manually operated means for controlling said train pipe fluid control means.

HARRY F. WOERNLEY. 

